Volume Spike Investor

Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) is closer and closer to becoming just a handset pure-play.  We noted on our rumor round-up that it was looking to sell its Home & Communications unit per the WSJ.  Despite shares still being down 1.6% at $8.71, we have seen substantial trading in stock and even seen elevated options trading.  Motorola at 1:43 PM EST has traded some 66.7 million shares versus an average volume of about 35 million shares.   The NOV09 $9.00 CALLS have seen 13,204 contracts versus an open interest of 30,726 contracts.  There has also been 6,824 contracts of the NOV09 $9.00 PUTS.  Those might not be extreme bets by any stretch of the imagination, but they are standout positions at the CBOE if you take out the usual suspect bank stocks that usually dominate the options most-actives.

JON OGG